Hot Dog, Mickey Mouse, it’s your birthday! Since Mickey’s debut in Steamboat Willie in 1928, he has fascinated children and adults alike, bringing out the inner child in us all. While Mickey will always be near and dear to our hearts, most of us would agree that he is the only mouse we want visiting our home.

There is something magical about fireflies. Do you remember chasing and catching them in your childhood? Did you collect them? I remember collecting them in mason jars that my grandmother used for peach and fig preserves. How many could we catch? Would there be enough to serve as a make-shift nightlight? Would it be okay if I kept them just until morning, please? As I grew up, my days catching fireflies dwindled, but I still loved seeing them light up the backyard in summer.

5 Questions you Need AnsweredBefore you Hire a Pest Professional

One by one, four by four ... ah, geez, the Ant Army is on the move again. Ants are one of the most common pests we southerners encounter. It seems that no matter what the weather, ants will make their presence known. Dry conditions can summon them, and wet weather encourages them, too. We can't control the weather, but there are steps homeowners can take to prevent ants from marching into your home.

Love is in the air, but there is not much to love about love bugs. Often called kissing bugs, they do not sting or bite, but can be quite a nuisance. These tiny red and black flies congregate in open sunny areas and splatter on vehicle windshields and grills. They are a pain to clean and can even permanently damage the vehicle’s finish.

That’s right woodchuck chuckers, it’s… GROUNDHOG DAY! This morning, both Punxsutawney Phil and our local groundhog, General Beauregard Lee, saw their shadows. The Yellow River Game Ranch, which housed General Beauregard Lee until December of 2017, boasts his accuracy rate is the highest of any predicting groundhogs at 94%.

There are so many things to love about squirrels! They’re adorable, friendly and highly intelligent. They help the environment by planting trees with their forgotten nuts, and they even keep pests away by eating insects in yards and gardens. And while today is Squirrel Appreciation Day—no kidding, it’s a thing—there is not much to appreciate about the damage they can do to your house.

Remember the mouse mazes from science fair projects? Mice are curious and persistent, a combination that leads them to reward. If you don’t want your home to be their prize, try these house mouse prevention and mouse control tips.

Arachnaphobia? Entomophobia? Apiphobia? What are you afraid of this Halloween? If crawling critters give you the heeby geebies, you are not alone. Did you know there is actually a term for fear of butterflies? Which fear was featured in a box office smash?

It may look like a beetle, but that Kudzu bug is more closely related to the stink bug. You don't want these uninvited guests hanging around during the holidays. Kudzu bugs are quite small, only about a quarter inch long when fully grown.